I am one of America’s top communication theorists and coaches -- and I'm a speaker myself on storytelling, body language, persuasion, and influence. A passionate teacher, I am committed to helping people find clarity in their thinking and ideas – and then delivering them with panache. I have been commissioned by Fortune 50 companies to write for many CEOs and presidents. I have coached people to give Congressional testimony, to prepare TED talks, and to take on the investment community. I have worked widely with political and educational leaders. And I have spoken, led conferences, and moderated panels at venues around the world. My acclaimed book on public speaking, Working the Room: How to Move People to Action through Audience-Centered Speaking, was published by Harvard in 2003 and reprinted in paperback in 2005 as Give Your Speech, Change the World: How to Move Your Audience to Action. My book on authentic communications, Trust Me, was published by Jossey-Bass in January 2009. My latest book, Power Cues, deals with the science of influence, leadership and body language and was published by Harvard in May 2014.

Who Were The Best And Worst Communicators In 2013?

Who were the best and worst communicators in 2013? In a very real sense, it’s an impossible question. There are something like 6 billion of us humans on the planet. All of us are communicating all the time (if mostly during our waking hours). So, to pick 10 best and worst is to ignore the plain fact that we all could find our way on that list – for good or ill – on any given day. We all have great communicative moments and poor ones.

Perhaps I’m getting soft, but this year I find myself largely agreeing with Decker’s list, if not exactly the ranking. Except in one way, which I’ll get to later.

In a brilliant move, Decker puts Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafazi tops on the best communicator list this year. Who could argue with that? The icon of human endurance, courage, grace and spirit from the past and the most recent and remarkable poster child of human endurance, courage, grace, and spirit from 2013.

But these are minor complaints that come largely from the perception that some of these people are essentially shills for businesses (in the best possible sense) and others are deep thinkers about the human spirit. Oh, yes, and a US politician found his way on the list. Last I checked, only partisans can agree these days on specific choices for effective political communicators. Is there really anyone on the US political scene who appeals broadly to both parties and the independents in the middle?

Of course not. And the answer just shows up the hopeless mess that is US politics these days. So yes, I would have left all US politicians off the list, simply because I don’t think there’s an effective one in the bunch. All of them are so trapped in trying to stay cool with their base that they’re unable and unwilling to do anything except sneer across the aisle.

Which is why so many politicians are on the 10 worst half of the list. And I agree, they’re all terrible in their own ways. To decide on a ranking is to hold your nose and pick from a variously horrible crew.

But I think the only real mistake on the worst list is putting Rob Ford, absurdly criminal mayor of Toronto, near the bottom of the list at #9. Finally Canada gets recognition, and all it gets is #9? For the sake of my Canadian friends, I want to move Ford up to at least #2. Also, for the sake of my British friends, I would putDavid Cameron on the list. He’s proven himself to be a uniquely weak Prime Minister at a time when the United Kingdom desperately needs strength. A good deal of the economic and social despair I sense on visits to the UK these days can be put at his door.

Finally, I think TED itself should be on the best AND worst list. Best, because TED has made an enormous amount of wonderful video available to the world in a way that is unique in history and provides an extraordinary public service. Worst, because it has become ubiquitous, too successful, and oversold. It risks becoming passé, and if that happens, public speaking will suffer, and I for one would be very, very cross.

Happy Holidays, congratulations to Decker Communications for a great list, and here’s to better communications in 2014.

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